Green still unsure of final decision

Georgetown forward Jeff Green knows the quality of his workouts over the next 10 days will determine whether he returns for his senior year and another run at the Final Four or enters the NBA Draft.

“That’s one thing I have to do to persuade my decision to stay in the draft or come back out, depending on how the workouts go,” he said.

Green worked out at Georgetown’s McDonough Arena yesterday in front of Philadelphia 76ers president and general manager Billy King after returning from the Orlando Pre-Draft Camp. He worked out for the Chicago Bulls earlier this week, and has a workout planned next week with the Boston Celtics, according to a report in the Boston Herald.

Green said he plans to continue working out for teams until June 18, the deadline to pull out of the draft without losing college eligibility. The draft is June 28.

Green and junior center Roy Hibbert publicly announced their plans on May 24, as Hibbert opted to stay for his senior year, while Green decided to keep his name in the draft. But Green has yet to sign with an agent, keeping open the possibility of returning for his senior year as well.

Because Green would have to reimburse NBA teams for visiting their facilities were he to stay another year, King and other 76ers personnel traveled to the District to see him. King spent much of the workout talking with Green, with topics ranging from his family life to hobbies and his future plans.

“We used the individual workouts as more of a chance to talk with him, see footwork and other things that you may not see in the games,” King said. “It was a lot of individual drills like shooting and ball-handling. Then the bigger part was when we were sitting down with him and we just talked.”

Green, the Big East Player of the Year, led the Hoyas in scoring (14.3 points) and was second on the team in rebounding (6.4) and assists (3.2).

Although known as a consistent and versatile threat, Green had a letdown in the Hoyas’ national semifinal game against Ohio State, when he scored nine points on just five shots.

Green acknowledged the possibility of earning a national championship next year has made his final decision difficult, but has maintained that the possibility of injuries are not a factor.

NBADraft.net projects Green will be picked seventh by the Minnesota Timberwolves, while Scout.com lists Green as the fifth pick, which is owned by the Celtics.

“It’s going to be a tough decision,” Green said. ” I just have to take my time. I’m not going to rush it. This is deciding my future, so I don’t want to rush that. I’ve just got to be patient.”

Neither Green nor coach John Thompson III would explain what has made the Hoyas’ swingman change his mind after making a formal announcement on May 24. Multiple sources told The Washington Times in April that Green was no longer attending classes, giving the indication that he had decided to go pro.

“Much like a lot of things, it changes every couple of days,” Thompson said. “But I think he’s just going through an information, fact-finding — getting as much information as he can before he decides one way or the other.

“Come June 18, make a decision. He’s going to have a few more workouts, piece that together and go from there.”